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High Risk Dams in Kentucky

Kentucky has 104 high hazard dams with a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory. These are dams where failure would probably cause loss of human life and where recognized safety deficiencies have been identified.

Of the 269 high hazard dams in Kentucky, 104 (38%) have concerning condition ratings — 89 rated poor and 15 rated unsatisfactory.

Condition scale, best to worst
  1. Satisfactory No existing or potential safety deficiencies recognized; acceptable performance expected under all loading conditions.
  2. Fair No deficiencies under normal operating conditions; a rare flood or earthquake could create one.
  3. Poor A safety deficiency is recognized under normal operating conditions; remedial action is necessary.
  4. Unsatisfactory Worst rating. The dam is considered unsafe; a deficiency requires immediate or emergency remedial action.

"Not rated" means no assessment is on file in the National Inventory of Dams.

DamCountyHeight (ft)ConditionLast inspectedPurposeYear
Cannon Creek DamBell125Poor12/17/2025this yearWater Supply1972
Cranks Creek Lake DamHarlan120Poor12/17/2025this yearRecreation1963
Willisburg Lake DamWashington77Poor01/30/20251 yr agoWater Supply1968
Taylor Fork Lake DamMadison76Poor01/29/20251 yr agoRecreation1966
Renfro DamRockcastle72Poor11/20/2025this yearWater Supply1968
Greenbo Lake DamGreenup70Poor02/17/2026this yearRecreation1955
Wiley Miller DamPerry68Poor06/24/20251 yr agoRecreation1972
Lake Carnico DamNicholas68Poor03/13/20251 yr agoRecreation1963
Corinth Lake DamGrant67Poor05/29/20251 yr agoRecreation1962
Beech Creek DamClay67Poor09/09/20251 yr agoWater Supply1963
Kincaid Creek DamPendleton66Poor05/29/20251 yr agoRecreation1961
Martin County Water District No 1 DamMartin66Poor11/17/2025this yearWater Supply1969
Campton Lake DamWolfe65Poor06/18/20251 yr agoWater Supply1963
Liberty Reservoir DamCasey65Poor11/05/2025this yearWater Supply1979
Hollybush DamPerry65Poor09/19/20251 yr agoOther1988
Mill Creek Mps 4Monroe63Poor08/19/20251 yr agoRecreation1972
Boltz Lake DamGrant62Poor05/29/20251 yr agoRecreation1956
Red Lick Creek Frs 5Madison61Poor02/13/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1980
Guist Creek Lake DamShelby60Poor01/30/20251 yr agoWater Supply1961
South Fork Beargrass Creek Dry Bed DamJefferson60Poor11/24/2025this yearOther1984
Lower Alexandria DamCampbell58Poor04/03/20251 yr agoRecreation1958
Campbell County Lake DamCampbell56Poor04/03/20251 yr agoRecreation1962
MUD River Mps 51 - Lake Malone DamMuhlenberg56Poor03/18/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1961
Red Lick Creek Mps 1Madison55Poor02/13/20251 yr agoWater Supply1974
Pigeon Roost Creek Frs 3Jackson53Poor11/13/2025this yearFlood Risk Reduction2009
Chamberlain Branch Frs 1Estill52Poor11/13/2025this yearFlood Risk Reduction
Pigeon Roost Creek Mps 1Jackson50Poor11/13/2025this yearFlood Risk Reduction1995
Rice Lake DamLincoln49Unsatisfactory11/20/2025this yearWater Supply1953
Fox Creek Frs 6aFleming49Poor02/26/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1972
Salt Lick Creek Mps 3Bath49Poor03/19/20251 yr agoRecreation1982
Lake VegaMadison48Poor11/24/20205 yrs agoFlood Risk Reduction1943
Olive Hill Reservoir DamCarter47Poor02/17/2026this yearWater Supply1957
Fox Creek Frs 2Fleming47Poor02/26/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1988
Panbowl LakeBreathitt46Poor06/24/20251 yr agoRecreation1961
Caney Creek Frs 6Grayson46Poor04/16/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1966
Pigeon Roost Creek Frs 2Jackson45Poor11/13/2025this yearFlood Risk Reduction1992
Lower Berea Reservoir DamMadison44Poor02/13/20251 yr agoWater Supply1950
Clements Lake DamRowan44Poor02/19/2026this yearRecreation1950
Buck Creek Frs 4Lincoln44Poor11/20/2025this yearFlood Risk Reduction1970
Fox Creek Mps 4Fleming43Poor02/26/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1968
Homestead Lake DamHopkins42Poor06/26/20251 yr agoRecreation1940
Walker Construction DamMenifee42Poor03/19/20251 yr agoOther1967
Zachariah Lake DamLee40Poor05/07/20251 yr agoOther1950
Elkhorn Lake DamLetcher40Unsatisfactory11/17/2025this yearWater Supply1912
Marion County Sportsmans DamMarion40Poor08/07/20251 yr agoRecreation1953
Lexington Reservoir 3 DamFayette40Poor02/26/20251 yr agoRecreation1902
Melvin Stinson Lake DamTodd39Unsatisfactory04/30/20251 yr agoRecreation1958
Lower County Squire DamKenton39Poor04/03/20251 yr agoRecreation1996
East Fork Clarks River Frs 28aMarshall38Unsatisfactory04/11/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1969
Red Lick Creek Frs 12Madison36Poor02/13/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1975
Bryan Lake DamMuhlenberg35Unsatisfactory07/02/20251 yr agoRecreation
Fordsville Lake DamOhio35Poor07/17/20251 yr agoWater Supply1963
Upper Alexandria DamCampbell35Poor04/03/20251 yr agoRecreation1930
Bullitt County Sportsmens Club DamBullitt35Poor06/11/20251 yr agoRecreation1950
Otter Lake Dam No 2Hopkins35Unsatisfactory03/18/20251 yr agoRecreation1979
Upper County Squire DamKenton35Poor04/03/20251 yr agoRecreation1996
Crystal Lake DamOldham34Poor07/31/20251 yr agoRecreation1965
Salt Lick Creek Frs No 5Bath34Poor03/19/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1973
Northern Ky Airport DamBoone33Poor08/27/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1999
Salt Lick Creek Frs 1Menifee33Unsatisfactory03/19/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1976
Lake Peewee DamHopkins32Poor07/02/20251 yr agoWater Supply1953
Mitchell Hill Lake DamJefferson32Poor05/15/20251 yr agoRecreation1970
Stewart Creek Frs No 2Hopkins32Poor04/30/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1987
Little Kentucky River Frs No 7Henry32Poor09/04/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1970
Donaho Lake DamBoyd31Poor02/17/2026this yearRecreation1960
Curtis Begley LakeOwsley31Poor05/07/20251 yr agoRecreation1970
Newport Waterworks Road Detention DamCampbell31Poor04/03/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction
Plum Creek Frs No 3Shelby31Poor06/11/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1960
Fox Creek Frs 3Fleming31Poor02/26/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1973
Lower Eagle Creek Golf Course DamOldham31Poor07/31/20251 yr agoRecreation1967
Madisonville Reservoir 2 DamHopkins30Poor04/30/20251 yr agoRecreation1930
Maple Leaf DamOhio30Unsatisfactory02/12/2026this yearRecreation1953
Mckee City ReservoirJackson30Unsatisfactory11/13/2025this yearWater Supply1964
Tank Pond DamBoyle29Unsatisfactory11/15/20241 yr agoRecreation1920
George Brown DamFloyd29Poor11/15/20232 yrs agoRecreation1972
Windsor Forest DamJefferson29Poor05/15/20251 yr agoRecreation1955
Stewart Creek Frs No 1Hopkins29Poor04/30/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1985
West Fork Clarks River Frs No 4Calloway29Unsatisfactory12/11/2025this yearFlood Risk Reduction1967
Otter Lake DamHopkins28Poor03/18/20251 yr agoRecreation1959
Pennyroyal Camp Lake DamDaviess28Poor07/17/20251 yr agoRecreation1957
West Fork Mayfield Creek Frs 16Carlisle28Poor12/11/2025this yearFlood Risk Reduction1978
Bonita LakeBoyd27Unsatisfactory03/11/20251 yr agoRecreation1947
Lakewood Baptist Church DamJefferson27Poor05/15/20251 yr agoRecreation
Wallitsch DamSpencer27Poor12/06/20232 yrs agoRecreation1968
Loch Mary Reservoir DamHopkins27Unsatisfactory04/08/20251 yr agoWater Supply1950
Quinn DamHancock26Poor07/17/20251 yr agoOther1952
Bluefield DamBoone25Poor08/27/20251 yr agoRecreation
Otter Lake Dam 3Hopkins25Poor04/08/20251 yr agoRecreation
Lake Reba DamMadison25Poor01/29/20251 yr agoRecreation1935
Pine Knob DamGrayson25Unsatisfactory04/23/20251 yr agoRecreation1930
Olympian Springs DamBath25Poor11/13/2025this yearRecreation1972
Carlisle Lower Reservoir DamNicholas25Poor03/13/20251 yr agoWater Supply1950
Obion Creek Srs 44Graves25Poor12/11/2025this yearOther1964
Eminence Lake DamHenry24Poor09/04/20251 yr agoRecreation1950
Hardin County Sportsman Lake DamHardin23Poor08/21/20251 yr agoRecreation1957
Madisonville Reservoir 1 DamHopkins22Unsatisfactory04/30/20251 yr agoRecreation1930
West Fork Clarks River Frs No 20Graves22Poor06/26/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1963
East Fork Clarks River Frs No 32Marshall22Poor06/26/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1962
East Fork Clarks River Frs No 33Marshall21Poor06/26/20251 yr agoFlood Risk Reduction1963
Montgomery Land Fill Pond No 5Montgomery20Poor06/04/20251 yr agoOther1995
Montgomery Land Fill Pond No 6Montgomery19Poor06/04/20251 yr agoOther1995
Nortonville Lake DamHopkins17Poor07/02/20251 yr agoRecreation1940
Duncan Nave DamJessamine15Poor01/29/20251 yr agoRecreation1930
Gilbert DamBullitt15Poor12/06/20232 yrs agoRecreation1985

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